After all of the animals are removed from the shelter, every surface in the facility will be degreased and disinfected before new animals are brought in — a process expected to take four days to complete, the story stated.

Susan Cosby, Philadelphia SPCA chief executive officer (CEO), said: "We are going to completely break the new population from the existing. Although it''s possible they''re not even sick, we don''t want to take any chances by mixing the two populations."

This marks the second year in a row that the "strep zoo" infection has struck the animal shelter, prompting many to question the cleanliness of the facility, the story noted.